25 October 2014

For long-time book lovers, reading on an electronic device can be disorienting experience. The most obvious choice for those going down the ebook path is a device like the Kindle, completely and utterly dedicated to emulating the traditional experience of reading. I’ve been seduced by the promise of an ereader many-a-time, but I always find myself reaching for that device never not at my side — my smartphone.

15 October 2014

Isn’t it fine to have a smartphone that fits in your pocket? Isn’t it dandy to have a tablet for two-handed tasks? Soon you’ll be able to buy both for just $US200 with this Intel-powered smartphone that transforms into a tablet.

14 October 2014

You are now entering the world of inexpensive smartphones. You’re in the bargain bin, the bottom end, the cheapest of the cheap. Dispense with your expectations of blistering fast processors, pixel-heavy cameras, premium metal bodies, or 2K screens. Also, while you’re at it, do away with the notion that “cheap” means “bad.” I just tested the new Moto G, and it’s surprisingly excellent.

7 October 2014

Technology obsession can border on the pornographic. Extreme close-ups capture every detail, gushing over every curve. People describe soulless bits of plastic and metal as “attractive” and “stunning.” (We draw the line at “sexy.”) For a premium smartphone to make it in this vain consumer world, it needs to look the part. That’s what Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha is all about.

3 June 2014

Samsung’s been playing with its Tizen operating system for some time now, looking for a way to break free of the Google ties it relies on for its Android Galaxy smartphone successes. The OS recently wormed its way into the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch, and now, after a long development period, there’s a Tizen phone too — the Samsung Z.